This is just taking the piss.
Kenyan athletics coach John Anzrah has been sent home from the Olympics in disgrace after it was discovered he masqueraded as one of his athletes for a drug test.
Ferguson Rotich, who beat world record holder David Rudisha at the Kenyan trials this year, was selected for a random drug test. However former sprinter Anzrah turned up with Rotich’s credentials and provided a sample on his behalf.
Anzrah is the second Kenyan coach to be sent home, before the athletics tournament has even begun in Rio. Their track and field manager Michael Rotich was kicked out after The Sunday Times secretly filmed him offering to tip off undercover reporters – posing as athletes – about doping tests in exchange for $13,000 (€11,600).
“We have sent (sprint coach) Anzrah back home. He presented himself as an athlete, gave the urine sample and even signed the documents. We cannot tolerate such behaviour,” said Kip Keino, chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK).
It is certainly another knock for NOCK, with Kenya’s famed athletics programme now shrouded in doubt and suspicion ahead of the athletics, which begins tomorrow.
The 800m heats take place tomorrow afternoon, with Ferguson Rotich due to run in Heat 2 at 2.19pm. Ireland’s Mark English runs in Heat 6.
It is not yet clear whether Ferguson Rotich will be allowed to compete after effectively missing a drugs test.
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